Updated at 9 p.m. with additional comments from President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON — In Texas and beyond, reactions to President Donald Trump's tense news conference in which he blamed — again — "both sides" for deadly race-fueled violence in Virginia ranged from outrage to disbelief, with at least one Lone Star Republican calling on the president to apologize.

Appearing on CNN, San Antonio Republican Rep. Will Hurd called for Trump, who on Tuesday said both white nationalists and so-called "alt-left" protesters are to blame for the clashes that left one woman dead, to walk back his remarks.

"Racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism of any form is unacceptable and the leader of the free world should be unambiguous about that," Hurd said.

He's one of many lawmakers, celebrities and advocates alike weighing in after Trump's remarkable appearance, which served to undo much of the damage control attempted by White House aides in recent days.

Trump was initially blasted by both political sides for waiting two days to formally denounce hate groups, including the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists, for their role in the violent rallies last weekend. A woman was killed when a man rammed his car into counter-protesters.

On Monday, Trump specifically condemned the hate groups, but on Tuesday, doubled down on his original stance that the so-called “alt-left” was also at fault. He drew the ire of many for saying that, in addition to some "bad people," there were "very fine people" on both sides of the rally -- including among protesters who objected to the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

"There are two sides to a story. I thought what took place was horrible moment for our country, a horrible moment, but there are two sides to the country," Trump said.

Trump’s appearance quickly drew praise from a notable supporter — David Duke, the former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, who tweeted: “Thank you President Trump for your honesty & courage to tell the truth about #Charlottesville & condemn the leftist terrorists in BLM/Antifa"

Hurd, however, told CNN that “I don’t think anybody should be looking at getting props from the grand dragon of the KKK as any kind of sign of success.”

Houston Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was quick to weigh in on Twitter. “The President's refusal to condemn alt-right groups and perpetuate hatred is infuriating. This can not continue. #Charlottesville” she wrote.

The President's refusal to condemn alt-right groups and perpetuate hatred is infuriating. This can not continue. #Charlottesville

Houston Rep. Al Green, a Democrat and former NAACP leader, tweeted: "A Nazi sympathizer, Klan defender, Supremacist protector shouldn't be President of The Greatest Country in the World. #RepealAndReplaceTrump"

A Nazi sympathizer, Klan defender, Supremacist protector shouldn't be President of The Greatest Country in the World. #RepealAndReplaceTrump

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, released a statement — directed at Trump — following the event. "President Trump. You are embarrassing our country and the millions of Americans who fought and died to defeat Nazism," Sanders said. "The violence in Charlottesville was not caused by the 'alt-left,' (whatever that may be). It was caused by Neo-Nazis and white supremacists who are attempting to spread their hateful and racist ideology."

Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, the Democrat who leads the Congressional Black Caucus — a group that has called for the ouster of White House advisers Steve Bannon, Sebastian Gorka and Stephen Miller — said in a statement: "I never thought I would see the day when the president of United States would openly defend white supremacists."

Like Hurd, other Republican leaders — though few from Texas — were quick to denounce Trump's remarks.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has called for a Department of Justice investigation into domestic terrorism following Saturday's deadly attack, has not weighed in on Trump's latest remarks. Neither has Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who previously condemned Saturday's violence.

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a GOP statesmen of the Senate who has supported Trump but quickly condemned his remarks last weekend, re-upped a string of statements on Twitter blasting the white supremacists as “evil” and calling for “civility.”

Without naming Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Twitter that "We must be clear. White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity."

We must be clear. White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity.